Cushion device for nigger-bars.



No. 722,320. PATENTD MAR. 10, 1903. A

4W. A. MOGRBGOR d: A. C. SOMERS. CUSHION DEVICE FOR NIGGER BARS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 30, 1902 NO MODEL.

YH; Nonms PETERS cu, momvumo.. ymsnmmon. D. c.

UNTTTzn STATES PATTENT Dineren.

LOUISIANA.

CUSHION DEVICE FOR NIGGERIBARS.

SPECIFICATION forming part 0f Letters Patent No. 722,320, dated March 10, 1903.

Application tiled July 30,1902. Serial No. 117,678. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM A. Mc- GREGOR and ALEXANDER C. SoMnRs, citizens of the United States, residing at Neame, Vernon parish, Louisiana, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Cushion Devices for Nigger-Bars, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in Which- Figure 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the trackrails of a sawmill-carriage, showing our improved cushioning device in position. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the cushion device, and Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in cushion devices for niggerbars or log-turners, the object being to construct a device of the character described, which is composed of a fewnumber of parts, is easily applied in position, requiring no special arrangement or change in existing mills, and one which is easily accessible for adjustment and repair when in position.

IVith these objects in view our invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts, all as will hereinafter be described, and afterward pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, 1 indicates a sawmill-car riage, (shown in dotted lines,) which may be of any ordinary or usual construction, said carriage traveling upon track-rails 2, arranged upon the track-timbers 3.

e represents the nigger-bar provided with the usual teeth which nigger-bar is designed to be operated in a well-known manner for the purpose of turning a log o' on the carriage. This nigger-bar preferably works between timbers S, having facing-plates?) for the purpose of strengthening and guiding the same in its movements.

In the ordinary operation of the devices above referred to the nigger-bar sometimes trips and throws the log over the knees of the carriage and when relieved of its load will fly inwardly, striking the carriage or the track on which it runs, doing injury to itself or to said track. It is the purpose of our invention to provide a cushion in the path of movement of the nigger-bar, which will receive the same under such conditions, acting as a buffer in arresting the bar. This cushion device consists of a head 10, slotted vertically in its outer face to accommodate the teeth of the nigger-bar and permits its forward movement without interruption. The face of the nigger-bar rides on the prong ends of this head, as shown, and in ordinary operation the head 10 does not interfere with or affect in any way the movement of the nigger-bar. The head 10 is guided in its horizontal movement by a strap-iron 11.

12 indicates a shank upon which the head 10 is mounted, said shank passing through the opposite rail-timber and having coiled springs 13 and let wound about the same and bearing at one end (the inner) against the railtimber. Collars 15 and 16 are pinned on the shank to ati'ord seats for the outer ends of the springs 13 and 14:. A yoke-plate 17 is held in position by bolts 1S for relieving the springs in the adjustmentI of the shank and its carried head.

The operation of the device is as follows: The nigger-bar is permitted free movement outwardly and inwardly, and in the event of contact with the head 10 in its inward movement the spring 13 will be compressed and the head 10 will cushion the nigger-bar in its inward movement. When the nigger-bar is relieved of pressure, the spring 13 will expand, restoring the nigger-bar to normal position until the collar 16 cooperates with the spring 14c and equilibrium is established between the springs 13 and 14. These opposing springs cooperating with the shank 12 make the head 10 extremely sensitive, so that an eficient cushion or buffer is provided for the niggerbar, whichV as it moves inwardly offers an in creasing resistance. To adjust the head 10 with relation to the nigger-bar, the bolts 18 are screwed up so as to force the yoke 17 against the collar 16. This moves the bar 12 outwardly and releases spring 13 from collar 15, when collar 15 can be loosened and moved along bar 12 toward spring 14. If it is desired to adjust the head 10 inwardly, the collar l5 IOO is` moved the desired distance against its spring 13, after which the bolts 1S are slackened to release the collar 16. To adjust the head outwardly, collar 16 is loosened, relieving spring 14, when the spring 13 will force the bar 12 and its carried head outwardly. Collar 16 is now tightened in its desired position and the yoke moved up against said collar until proper tension is placed on spring 14 or when collar 15 may be loosened until proper tension is placed on the spring 13 and the collar 15 may be again tightened. After the adjustment of the head the bolts 18 are manipulated so as to place the yoke the proper distance behind the collar 16 to permit free play of bar 12 and its carried head. In each instance the spring will recover the bar after actuation and the position being determined by the establishment of equilibrium between the springs.

Weare aware that minor changesin the construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of our device can be made and substituted for those herein shown and described Without in the least departing from the nature and principle of our invention.

Having thus described our invention, What we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a device of the character described, the combination with rail-timbers, of a head projecting through one of said timbers, a shank on said head projecting through the other of said timbers, and opposing springs on said shank, one of which is on each side of and coperates `with one of said timbers for restoring Ithe head to central position; substantially as described.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with rail-timbers, of a head fastened thro ugh one of said timbers, a shank upon which said head is mounted, said shank passing through the other of said timbers, op-

posing springs one on each side of one of said timbers and on said shank, and a yoke-strap for relieving the springs in the adjustment of the shank and its carried head; substantially as described.

3. In a device of the character described! the combination with a nigger-bar, of a head provided with a vertical channel in its end for accommodating the teeth of the nigger-bar, a shank upon which said head is mounted, a rail-timber through which said shank passes, and opposing springs one of which is on each side of `said timber for cooperating with said timber and said shank; substantially as described.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination with rail-timbers, of a channeled head 10 passing through one of said timbers, a shank 12 upon which said head is mounted, said shank passing through the other of said timbers, springs 13 and 14 one of which is upon each side of said last-mentioned timber, collars 15 and 16 on the shank cooperating with said springs, a yoke-plate 17 also mounted upon said last-mentioned timber and cooperating with the collar 16 to relieve the springs in the adjustment of the shank and adjusting-bolts 18; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof We hereunto affix our signatures, in the presence of two witnesses, this 9th day of July, 1902.

WILLIAM A. MCGREGOR. ALEXANDER C. SOMERS. WVitnesses:

D. W. BARTRAN, H. I-I. FOLK. 

